CAMBRIDGE, 27 November, 1895.

To the Editors of the Crimson:

I have read with interest the letter in your issue of this date, in which it is proposed to improve athletic conditions at Harvard by "cursing out" our athletic representatives when they have had the misfortune to meet with superior teams. I am quite sure that if any one is calling on us to curse the football team for the honorable defeat of last Saturday, our months will be closed, like Balaam's, in the attempt. In other words, while we can all echo "Ninety-Four's" call for vigorous efforts and enthusiastic support, we can not be carried away by the exaggerations of his loyalty.

Speaking as an alumnus of another university I think I can testify that it is decidedly an exaggeration to say that the name of Harvard is becoming a laughing-stock, or that "as a University" she is losing her reputation among any persons whose opinion is worth a moment's consideration. Her position and reputation are above even the potent influences of the football scores. Her recent athletic defeats are attributed (I do not say rightly, but speak only of opinions among college men) in part to developments in intercollegiate athletics outside the control of her students, and in part to her unwillingness to rival other universities by admitting the evils of professionalism in her management. She can afford, indeed, to let it be supposed that her prestige rests on more important achievements than muscular prowess-pleasant as that prowess is to her friends.

My chief reason, however, for addressing you was to call attention to a branch of intercollegiate contests in which Harvard has no need to excuse or explain herself. I refer to the annual debates in which her representatives have won such widely-noticed success. While athletic interests are hibernating it would certainly not be amiss for the body of students to turn their unoccupied loyalty and enthusiasm to these contests, more distinctly academic in their nature and apparently more suited to Harvard's peculiar talents than athletics. Why should our representatives in these events not share in the glory of champions in the University, and more general interest on the part of students meet the growing interest of the public in the contests where for the time being brain is as important as brawn?

GRADUATE.